The bill: establishes a national Tax Practitioners Board as a statutory authority within the Australian Taxation Office; requires certain entities that provide tax agent services and Business Activity Statement (BAS) services to be registered; introduces a Code of Professional Conduct to govern tax and BAS agents; provides for disciplinary sanctions to be imposed by the Board; and replaces criminal penalties for certain misconduct by agents and unregistered entities with civil penalties and injunctions.

in relation to: broadening the list of eligible medical expenses to include payments in relation to guide dogs; rules for payments, loans and forgiven debts made by a trustee to a private company’s shareholder; and deductions for dividends on-paid to non-resident owners;

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997

in relation to: income tax deductions for transport expenses for travel between workplaces; small business capital gains tax relief and discretionary trusts; net input tax credits and capital gains tax; and updating the list of deductible gift recipients;

Energy Grants (Credits) Scheme (Consequential Amendments) Act 2003

to clarify the treatment of claims for fuel purchased in the 3 years preceding the scheme’s introduction;

A New Tax System (Australian Business Number) Act 1999

to clarify permitted disclosure of Australian Business Number information;

Income Tax Assessment Act 1936

and

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997

in relation to income tax deductions for fund-raising event contributions; and 5 Acts to require that charities be endorsed in order to access relevant tax concessions. Also contains application and transitional provisions.

to: add certain organisations and include special schools as specifically-listed deductible gift recipients; give irrigation water providers and rural land irrigation water providers access to the water facilities and landcare tax concessions; enable an administrator (in addition to a liquidator) to declare worthless shares and other equity interests for capital gains tax purposes; and amend application of the first child tax offset provisions in relation to adoptive parents;

Fringe Benefits Tax Assessment Act 1986

to extend the fringe benefits tax exemption to costs associated with purchase of a dwelling as a result of relocation;

Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992

to remove the superannuation guarantee (SG) reporting requirement, for employers to report employer superannuation contributions to employees, from the SG arrangements;

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997

,

Income Tax (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997

and

Taxation Administration Act 1953

to clarify operation of the consolidation regime; and

Taxation Laws Amendment Act (No. 8) 2003

to correct a commencement provision. Also contains application and transitional provisions.

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Bills and committees

The House of Representatives Selection Committee and the Senate Selection of Bills Committee routinely consider whether bills should be referred to committees for inquiry and report. The House Committee reports its determinations to the chamber, while the Senate Committee makes recommendations which the Senate may then adopt. Bills may also be referred to committees by either chamber or by the relevant minister to House and joint committees.